We've carried Dunham Cellars' 3-Legged Red in the past. As a small specialty shop, it's hard to use up shelf space on wines that are stocked everywhere, the result of what is just plain good marketing on the part of the winery and in this case their biggest and best marketing juggernaut... Port, the 3-Legged Dog. Who isn't at least curious of content when a dog is on the label?

I remember being in Walla Walla for the spring bottling a couple of years ago and venturing into Dunham's tasting room. There was very little room to maneuver as that particular weekend is a very popular and packed event. As I nudged my way to the tasting bar I noticed a parting of the line in front of me, people sidestepping an obstacle on the floor, not mindlessly stepping around, but bending over to touch and usually muttering something in its direction. That obstacle was Port. He was sprawled out on his floor, in his tasting room, on his time and wasn't in the mood for moving. He was also enjoying all of the attention.

I've read several posts and articles lately on dogs and their presence in a business environment and several to do with wineries. Ours is a integral part of our daily existence. We take her everywhere and when she actually has days off, our customers ask, "where's Maggie?" and on a regular basis. Some have said she is our greatest marketing ploy. When she has been away from the shop for too long, like for a whole day, she can be very aggressive on the affectionate side and literally attaches herself to any and all that come into the shop. No one seems to mind.

Sometimes in the midst of our many maniacal days, it takes the awareness and appreciation of these loyal guardians and watchers to remind us of connections beyond stacks and pricing, accounting and promotion. And when we lose one, there is significant reason for tribute and remembrance. We'll be keeping the 3-Legged Red on the shelf along with the Hightower Murray Cuvee. Murray also passed away earlier this year.